Saint Louis University students interested in both bioethics and philosophy who wish to write a dissertation on bioethics from a philosophical perspective should consider the joint Ph.D. in philosophy and bioethics offered by the Gnaegi Center for Health Care Ethics and the Department of Philosophy. Unlike a dual degree, this program offers one degree: a Ph.D. in philosophy and bioethics. All joint Ph.D. students take a three-semester, 150-hour clinical practicum to gain experience working in a clinical setting. In addition to these fieldwork opportunities, most Ph.D. students graduate with two or more publications. The degree consists of 66 credits: 24 credits in health care ethics, 30 credits in philosophy and 12 dissertation research hours. Pre-comprehensive exam coursework can usually be completed in three years (9 credit hours each fall and spring). Non-coursework requirements include three research tools requirements in library database skills, medical terminology, statistics and study design and written and oral comprehensive exams. Graduates of this program are highly qualified candidates for academic jobs in philosophy departments or bioethics centers, as well as administrative jobs in ethics in health care institutions. Graduates will be able to demonstrate in-depth knowledge of foundational philosophical theories and methodologies, historical and contemporary, that inform scholarly analysis of issues in bioethics. Graduates will be able to demonstrate a proficiency in combining philosophical theories, concepts or methodologies with those of other disciplines in order to address practical ethical issues that arise in health care contexts.Graduates will be able to demonstrate a proficiency in formulating original normative philosophical arguments. Graduates will be able to demonstrate the ability to conceptualize, develop and bring to successful completion an original, sustained and coherent independent research project that contributes to both the fields of philosophy and bioethics.
Career Path
Graduate career path includes University Professor (Philosophy/Bioethics), Academic Advisor (Graduate-Level Humanities/Health), Department Chair (Philosophy/Health Humanities), Scientific Journal Editor (Bioethics/Philosophy Focus), Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Bioethics), Research Director (Philosophy & Bioethics), Curriculum Developer (Bioethics/Philosophy Programs), Hospital Ethics Committee Director, Graduate Program Coordinator, Clinical Ethicist, Patient Rights Advocate, Palliative Care Ethics Specialist, Genetic Counseling Ethics Consultant, End-of-Life Care Ethics Specialist,Mental Health Ethics Consultant, Public Health Ethics Specialist, Policy Analyst (Bioethics/Health Care Focus), Regulatory Affairs Director (Health Care), Legislative Ethics Consultant, Public Health Policy Advisor, Government Affairs Specialist (Health Policy), Global Health Ethics Specialist, International Development Ethics Advisor, Health Care Compliance Officer.
